STORY: World champion Rovanpera wins WRC Safari Rally Kenya again
SHOOTING TIME: March 31, 2024
DATELINE: April 1, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:42
LOCATION: NAIVASHA, Kenya
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the awards ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
3. various of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya

STORYLINE:

World champion Kalle Rovanpera became a two-time winner of the FIA Safari Rally Kenya on Sunday afternoon.

The Finnish star, whose father, Halle Rovanpera, was a two-time podium finisher at this event, ended the grueling African round of the World Rally Championship with a victory margin of one minute and 37.8 seconds.

In by far the toughest WRC round, Rovanpera's meticulous balance of both speed and maturity ultimately secured his 12th career victory and a first of the year for the Toyota GR Yaris 1 car.

Behind him, Japanese driver Takahiro Katsuta celebrated his third Safari podium in a row and another Toyota 1-2. Frenchman Adrien Faumaux earned Ford Puma Rally 1 a commendable podium finish in third.

It was poetry in motion for the 23-year-old Rovanpera, who will not take part in the full WRC season.

Having stayed third in the opening Special Spectator Stage in Nairobi on Thursday, the world champion showed his mettle in Naivasha - 90km northwest of the Kenyan capital on Friday, building a lead of over a minute after winning the rock-strewn stages around Lake Naivasha.

Rovanpera then stayed out of trouble on Saturday to build a yawning lead of over two minutes as his main rivals broke their cars with punctures, hitting rocks and mechanical trouble.

That left Rovanpera, who won his first Safari title in 2022, with the task of keeping his vehicle from any mishap, which he expertly navigated to clinch the most coveted win on the WRC circuit.

Kenyan President William Ruto was on hand at the Hell's Gate finish in Naivasha to hand Rovanpera his trophy.

SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
"To all drivers, congratulations for a wonderful event, for a wonderful show. And to the men and women who participated in this event, my very best wishes. Next year, we are looking for yet another exciting moment."

With his second runner-up finish in the Safari, Katsuta saw Toyota extend its manufacturers' championship lead to four points over Hyundai Motorsport.

Faumaux bagged his second consecutive podium after his second place finish in the Rally Sweden.

WRC action now moves to Europe for the fourth round of the 2024 season, which will take place in Croatia on April 18-21.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Naivasha, Kenya.
(XHTV)